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Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

william f. connell school of nursing

Why choose Psychiatric/Mental Health Care?

Psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners focus on health and wellness, paying particular attention to their patients’ emotional, cognitive, and social functioning. They help people explore personal, professional, and health obstacles that may impede their health and well being. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are key members and leaders of caregiving teams that help restore people and communities to health following periods of trauma or distress. At Boston College, psychiatric NPs are prepared to become confident, compassionate leaders, committed to helping patients understand themselves and capitalize on their strengths.

What is the NP’s role in this specialty?

Psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners play a key role in clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients from a variety of backgrounds and with a range of mental health concerns. They conduct individual, family, and group psychotherapy; diagnose psychiatric disorders; perform psychiatric assessments and evaluations across the lifespan; coordinate medications; act as case managers for people with psychiatric disorders; and provide consultation to primary care providers.

Where do Psychiatric NPs work?

Many are employed in in-patient hospital practices as admitting clinicians, supervisors of nursing staffs, or as members of the clinical treatment team or consultation liaison team. Some are members of a clinical team overseeing clients’ individual treatment and monitoring medications and aftercare. Many work in outpatient community mental health programs, private practice, emergency settings, and forensic settings such as court clinics or prisons.